It's been a whirlwind year filled with perfect weekends all over the country and all over the world. During our travels (and in our dreams), we had the chance to come across the the most beautiful hotels in the worldTHE the most beautiful islands on the planet, and the best luxury destinations from West to East, from North to South. Although we would love to revisit some of our favorite vacation spots and stopovers in 2025, we feel inspired to step out of our comfort zone and Expedia Group opens the way.
The beloved travel site, alongside Hotels.com And VRBO– just released Unbox '25an analysis of the top travel trends for 2025. By analyzing travel data from more than 25,000 travelers, Expedia Group was able to unveil (er, unpack) the most searched cities, sights and phenomena around the world for the year to come. In addition to discovering the Top 10 Detour Destinations of 2025 (must-see vacation spots off the beaten path of typical tourist attractions), Expedia Group revealed that next year, many people will travel in search of natural phenomena (like the synchronous firefly season and the penguin parade), as well as live out their fantasy on screen, inspired by shows like The Real Housewives of Dubai, Yellow stoneAnd And just like that…
“Expedia Group is continually working to combine technology with travel, making travel simpler and more enjoyable. The Unpack report is our opportunity to think about what travelers are looking for and how our partners are innovating,” Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group, said in the report.
Ready to feel inspired? Discover the most popular travel destinations of 2025 below.
The 10 best detour destinations of 2025
In 2025, Expedia Group expects vacations to be less focused on popular tourist destinations and more on interesting detours beyond their borders.
“Expedia’s Destinations of the Year are near popular hotspots, making them ideal day trips while also being attractive as main attractions,” the report reveals. “Looking for less-traveled and less-known destinations, 63% of consumers say they will likely visit a detour destination on their next trip. »
Do you think you could be part of it? Discover the top 10 detour destinations of 2025 below.
- Reims, France (detour from Paris)
- Brescia, Italy (detour from Milan)
- Cozumel, Mexico (detour from Cancun)
- Santa Barbara, California, USA (detour from Los Angeles)
- Waikato, New Zealand (Auckland detour)
- Girona, Spain (detour from Barcelona)
- Fukuoka, Japan (Tokyo detour)
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Dubai detour)
- Krabi, Thailand (detour from Phuket)
- Canmore, Alberta, Canada (Calgary detour)
The Top 10 Travel destinations inspired by phenomena
If your idea of a memorable vacation combines relaxation with unique experiences, you may want to jump on the phenomenon-inspired travel bandwagon. According to Expedia Group, tons of travelers have been looking for great vacation homes to watch the total solar eclipse on its path of totality in 2024, and this trend is expected to continue in 2025, with travel enthusiasts booking itineraries in cities where impressive natural events take place. occur.
“Survey data revealed that the Northern Lights are the most important phenomenon travelers want to see, followed by geological phenomena like volcanoes, geysers and hot springs,” the report revealed. “80% of travelers say it is important to stay somewhere with a prime view of these natural wonders. It's no surprise, then, that private vacation homes in remote or rural destinations are ideal for freak enthusiasts. »
Does this sound like your ideal vacation? Ahead, explore Vrbo's top 10 freak-inspired travel destinations.
- International Dark Sky Park – Arches National Park, Utah
- Synchronous Firefly Season – Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN
- Penguin Parade – Phillip Island near Melbourne, Australia
- Bioluminescent Plankton – Vero Beach, Florida
- Migration of “Black Sun” starlings – Wadden Sea National Park, Denmark
- Japanese Crane Ballet – Hokkaido, Japan
- Highest tides in the world, walk on the ocean floor – Bay of Fundy, Canada
- Starling murmurations – Somerset, United Kingdom
- Volcanoes, lava fields and black sand beaches – Reykjavík, Iceland
- Northern Lights – Lapland region, Finland
The 5 best set-jetting destinations
Meanwhile, if you're a TV buff, Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo have rounded up the top five destinations worth visiting in 2025, based on the year's most popular shows.
“Travelers continue to turn to the screen for inspiration while traveling,” the report reveals. “Since Expedia Group identified Set-Jetting as a travel behavior in 2022, the trend continues to grow. Two-thirds of travelers say movies, streaming services and TV shows have influenced their travel choices, an increase of 16% from last year.
You don't know which spectacle should inspire your trip(s) in 2025? Consider the five go-to destinations below.
- Dubai inspired by “The Real Housewives of Dubai”
- Montana and Wyoming inspired by “Yellowstone”
- New York City inspired by “And Just Like That…”
- Cape Town inspired by “One Piece”
- Scotland inspired by “The Traitors”
For more travel ideas, check out the full Unbox the '25 Trends Reportwhere you can discover travel in one click, JOMO Travel, the Renaissance hotel restaurant, and much more.
Rebecca Norris is a full-time freelance writer living in the Washington, DC metro area. Over the past 10 years, she has extensively covered a range of lifestyle topics including travel, home, beauty, style, wellness and celebrity news. She is a graduate of George Mason University, where she received a bachelor's degree in media: production, consumption and criticism, as well as a minor in electronic journalism. When she's not writing, she can be found walking with her Jack-Chi, Cash, sipping iced matcha lattes, enjoying delicious food, browsing farmers' markets and antique sales , collecting colored glasses, getting lost in the pages of a book and exploring. new cities to remember.
